Ethiopia’s Tigray region has seen months of political tension between Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed’s government and the Tigray leaders who once dominated Ethiopia’s government. Due to the increasing violence and rape, thousands of civilians or combatants have been killed. Additionally, more than 630,000 people have fled the northern Tigray region to seek safer shelter. Eritrea, a long-time enemy of Ethiopia, is accused of teaming up with its neighbor in the conflict. Numerous witnesses who fled the Tigray region have confirmed the participation of the Eritrean soldiers. But Prime Minister Abiy’s government has denied such claims says the government is more than capable of solving its problems.
Witnesses report numerous cases of violence and rape in Tigray
Tigray region remains largely cut off from the rest of the world. Few journalists have been allowed into the area, and only now are steps being taken to allow the United Nations human rights office into Tigray. Women and children in affected areas report that there have been many cases of rape and other horrific forms of sexual violence by soldiers. Furthermore, witnesses have said the soldiers involved in the war have sought to loot and burn down buildings. These individuals have called for investigators to bring the perpetrators of abuses to justice.
As communications and roads remain blocked n the Tigray region, there is barely any way to access the region. Due to this, assessing whether what witnesses say is true has been difficult. Irrespective of this, the heads of nine U.N. agencies and other officials have demanded that the Ethiopian government stop attacks against Tigray civilians. The heads have repeatedly called for an independent investigation into the conflict-related sexual violence in the Tigray region.
This week the U.N. special investigator on the human rights of internally displaced people and the U.N. agencies held a joint press conference. During the briefing, the two umbrella organizations representing non-governmental groups doing humanitarian work called all Tigray parties to condemn all sexual violence explicitly. Furthermore, they asked the parties in Tigray’s war to ensure their forces respect and protect civilian populations, particularly women and children, from all human rights abuses.
Humanitarian access essential in Tigray
The U.N. agencies and other officials have also stressed that humanitarian access is essential in Tigray. They demand that the Ethiopian government help workers reach all regions affected by conflict and violence, including major towns and rural areas. Many of those displaced by the fighting have lived in unfinished or damaged buildings. These buildings lack separate spaces and latrines for women and men, girls and boys. This has led to increased cases of gender-based violence and the spread of certain infectious diseases.
Tigray’s conflict continues to cause massive displacements. Tens of thousands of people are arriving into Axum, Shire, and Adwa displacement camps. Most of those displaced have come from the Western Tigray. But there are also reports of people uprooted by violence in the northwest and central areas.
According to humanitarians in displacement camps, those arriving appear visibly malnourished and desperate for life-saving support. The humanitarians worry for those left behind as the situation is extremely dire. These people need food and clean water, and emergency shelter, but humanitarian workers can’t reach them due to restrictions.
More:
